Victims and Vampires

It was Sunday morning. Val had been gone about 10 minutes (a meeting, what else on a Sunday morning?). I was sitting in the kitchen, looking not lovely, and the doorbell rang.

Now, I was always taught calling or visiting before 9am and after 9pm was not polite, so a 9:10am doorbell was a little too early for visitors. Wondering if it was a Deacon calling on Val, I answered the door.

Deacon, nope! Syracuse City policeman, YES!

That's right, Officer Bailey (you know, if you change the i to a g, it spells Bagley) was there to get our name and telephone number for his report.

My first thought upon seeing him was 'Oh great, someone stole our Halloween decorations and this fine officer is returning the stolen pieces.'

Now this was a safe assumption because it has happened before. Sunday morning visits from a Syracuse City police officer. Returning our decorations that had been moved to another yard in our fair city (I think it was Easter and Christmas), it's happened!

Not this time. This time, someone, I'll assume a teenage boy and his friends, decided to drive through our fair city and shoot out the car windows of cars parked on the street! Our big boat, the Mercury, was a victim!






We were the 7th home Officer Bailey visited that Sabbath morn. While he was on our front stoop he received a call about the 8th victim... I'm sure there were more calls throughout that beautiful autumn morning.

Now, I suppose you are wondering how I got the photo of the shattered window? After all, wasn't I just complaining that I did not have the cool tools for better blogs?

Well, I made a deal with a Vampire.

That's right! A Vampire!

I agreed to let said Vampire do Vampire things to my body in return for a new digital camera.

Don't worry.

This vampire is really handsome.

He has a very nice bouquet (aka - he smells really good!). He doesn't have very pointed eye teeth. He has a great, new haircut. Best of all, I've tried it out and I REALLY like kissing him!

Oh yeah, I have to help him "scare" on Halloween, too!

The Bagley Castle, complete with it's own vampire, will be haunting the children of our fair city this Halloween. And, I'll be there to help the handsome Vampire with his ritual... I suppose you could call me the Lady of the Castle?!?

But first... we have to fill 400 goodie bags with treats for the brave ones who visit our castle.

I'll post photos of the Castle and resident Vampire soon. Obviously it will be after the sun goes down and the Vampire is ready to reveal himself... OOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooooo!

Go, Red Ladybugs!

Miss Alona played soccer this late summer, early autumn in Roy. It was so fun to watch and cheer for her, even though she got shy on us when we did cheer. The game of soccer for 5 and 6 year old girls is simply fun! They are excited to be there and improved each week. Timid little girls bunched together on the field seemingly waiting for a teammate to kick the ball is so sweet. We definitely saw improvement each week and some girls became more aggressive. It was also refreshing to be on the sidelines with other mellow families. Parents always shouting out directions, if not criticism, to their children are most unwelcome to me. These soccer Moms and Dads were very polite.

Of course, it was also fun to spend time with Abbi and Kacen, too. Abbi and I did a few cheers with 'movements' on the sidelines. Abbi loved it, not knowing Grandma Ruthie didn't really know what she was doing. :) Kacen, Smiley as I call him, loved being out there playing. One Saturday was terrible rainy weather, he was still out there playing with a smile on his cute little face!

That rainy day transformed those cute little Red Ladybugs into Wet Ladybugs. They sure were troopers. I think they doubled their body weight that day while wearing their soggy clothes.

Sigh! The season is over but it was fun while it lasted!

Hello Again, Hello!

I suppose it's because of my age, or perhaps it's because I don't have the right equipment... I just know my blog isn't as fun as others I enjoy following. I don't take photos as often as I should and/or could, so I don't post about some of the fun things Val and I do each day, week and month.

Sigh! I suppose I should change my thought process and think of this as my journal and not something to entertain my small readership.

Fun things we've been doing...

Val and I went to Double Oak, Texas earlier this month to visit one of my friends and her family. Harold & Christina McIntyre and their family were the consummate hosts. Alexa (11), Austin (9), Nicolette (5), Christian (3) and Brigette (3 months) were so fun to be around. As always, the children loved Val. The minute he gets out a pencil, pen, sharpie or whatever drawing instrument he has access to, children, and adults, are smitten with him. Nicolette was especially sweet on my man (can't say as I blame her) and loved playing Old Maid with him.

Christina and I met while we were both working at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel in Woodland Hills, California. I transferred there from Point Clear, Alabama in approximately May, 1989 and Christina welcomed me with an open heart and has been a wonderful friend ever since. It was so fun to spend time together after such a long break (Nicolette was 18 months old last time we saw each other). She is one of the kindest, most sincere and loving women I've been blessed to know and love. Christina has such a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the gospel and church. She has always been a wonderful example to me. Alexa, Austin and Nicolette have been able to recite all thirteen Articles of Faith since they were three years old! Harold & Christina are definitely trying to raise righteous children unto the Lord. I was touched and impressed to see Christina's daily efforts to teach her children about our Savior, the scriptures and being good examples.

While we were there, Val painted a mural on Christian's bedroom wall. The mural is a castle theme with a fire breathing dragon, a castle with a moat and a knight in shining armor with his princess on his steed (see what I mean about not using the right tools? If I were really on the ball, I would have taken my old digital camera on the trip and taken a photograph to post here). Hopefully Christina will email some of her photos to me.

We also went to the Texas state fair where I enjoyed a Corny Dog - Mmmmm delicious! Going to the fair was a Mommy Moment for me. The last time I went to the fair my parents and Matthew and his family were with me. My Mom introduced me to the delicious corny dog. It was fun to go back with Val and the McIntyres.

The Sixth Floor Museum (formerly the Texas Book Depository where Oswald shot President Kennedy) was also on our list of activities. Even though I had been to the museum before, it was nice to go with Val, Harold and Christina. We enjoyed feeling like we were experiencing a part of history.

While in Texas we enjoyed balmy 75-80 degree weather, were lulled to sleep by the symphony of crickets and early morning time enjoying the sunrise at Twin Lakes. I couldn't help but sing to myself... "I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heavenly Father created for me."

My life has truly been enriched by the McIntyre family.